Toyota Yaris: More Safety, Style, Comfort And Performance
Published: 5th April 2003
The challenge to the design team was to freshen the Yaris’s appearance without diluting its intrinsic styling values or compromising the benefits of its ‘tall but compact’ profile.
The result is a car that is unmistakably a Yaris, but with fresh detailing, influenced by the Yaris Cabrio concept car presented at the Geneva Motor Show in 2000. At the front the bumper and radiator grille have been re-styled and the headlights have a new ‘teardrop’ shape that extends into the top line of the bumper. The inner surface of the headlamps has been given a chrome finish and the radiator grille has a mesh finish, adding to the boldness of the Yaris’s new appearance.
At the rear the theme continues with a new bumper and more sharply styled light clusters, finished in an all-over red tone.
Four new exterior colours are offered: Crystal Silver, Severn Green, Balearic Blue and Ice Blue. Body-coloured door mirrors are also available.
In the cabin materials and colours have been upgraded, boosting the already high-perceived quality of the Yaris. The steering wheel has been redesigned and a new, sleeker looking facia moulding has been introduced in a darker plastic to reduce the level of reflection in the windscreen. Bright metallic detailing on some grades adds to the perception of quality and modern design.
T Sport models now feature a geometric dot pattern on the heater control panel and electric window switch surround. The gearlever has a leather gaiter and a new metallic insert in the knob. The scuff plates are inscribed with the T Sport logo.
Pioneering Production Methods
The Valenciennes factory in northern France is the European base for Yaris production. The advanced plant showcases the benefits of Toyota’s Global Body Line production process, a flexible system which can adapt to fluctuations in customer demand and so reduce the number of unsold vehicles held in stock.
GBL also makes it easier to switch production to new models, or ramp up production without the need for complex re-engineering. Elements of the production process have been designed so that they can be operated by both robots and people, according to circumstances.
Since production began at Valenciennes in January 2001, more than 200,000 cars have been built. The current production rate is around one per minute.
Pricing And Cost Of Ownership
The excellent value for money qualities of the Yaris have been strengthened with prices for the new models no more expensive than the equivalent cars they replace and in some cases are considerably cheaper. That is in spite of the fact they benefit from extra specification features worth up to £500.
For example, the new five door 1.4-litre D-4D T Spirit at
£11,195 on the road is £700 cheaper than the previous
1.4 D-4D CDX, even though its additional specification is
worth £500. The entry-level 1.0-litre VVT-i three door
T2 model costs the same as the previous
1.0 S model, even though it now benefits from power steering.
At the other end of the scale the Yaris T Sport retains its £11,995 price for the three door, while the new five door costs £12,495.
In cost of ownership terms, the new Yaris is a strong performer, too. Insurance groupings are highly competitive, ranging from 2E for the 1.0-litre models to 7E for the T Sport versions.
Thanks to advanced engine technology, the Yaris doesn’t require a first 1,000-mile service. Full services are only required every 20,000 miles or two years, whichever is sooner. Every 10,000 miles or 12 months, Toyota recommends a ‘Health and Safety’ check. This takes just 30 minutes and includes an oil and oil filter change and condition check on the air filter, brake pads, discs and rear shoes, tyres and lights.
The new Yaris comes with Toyota’s three year/60,000 miles manufacturer warranty with three year paint and 12 year anti-perforation warranties.
